About Our Plants and Growing Methods
Above: Green tomatoes flurishing in the summer heat, early July, 2003.
Plants and Practices
What is grown in the garden from season to season depends largely on the group
comprising Farm Club at the time of the idea conception, planning, and seed
ordering. The one aspect of the garden that does not shift from year to year
is dedication to sustainable, organic growing techniques.
Success in our organic garden is based on the health of the soil. Because no commercial fertilizers are offered to the plants they depend on a rich soil that is accommodating not only to the plants but to the native species of animals such as worms, ants, and toads which also inhabit the garden space. In the areas where our garden plots were built the soil is not in ideal condition for growing. Unfortunately soil quality is not something that can be fixed overnight or even within one growing season. Over the past two seasons horse manure and peat from a local farmer and compost from Farmhouse and Parr house have been added to the wooden-framed raised beds located just off the woodchip path to Farmhouse. This spring horse manure, compost, and leaf mulch were added to the newly expanded garden in the Farmhouse lawn. These additions to the soil are deeply tilled using a pitchfork. Mixing in the compost and aged manure using deep tilling loosens up the underlying soil allowing plants to produce more extensive root systems. Adding compost and mulch to the garden is pleasing to friendly garden insects such as earthworms, ladybugs, and toads and encourages them to stick around.
In the Garden Summer 2005
Seeds for the spring planting are awaiting the garden beds. Many enthusiastic gardeners will be needed to sow the basil, tomato, onion, pepper, and numerous other seeds into the soil this spring. Check the Events Page to get involved!
In the Garden Summer 2003
During this season we grew a wide variety of plants of both heirloom and hybrid varieties.
Here's what's came out of the garden this past summer:
- 170 tomato plants including heirloom Brandywines, heirloom Black Krims,
First Lady II's, Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, and some unknown varieties
from donated plants
- Heirloom tomatillos
- Heirloom Green Peppers
- Hot Thai Peppers
- Habanero Peppers
- Yellow and Purple Potatoes
- Heirloom Leeks
- Heirloom Onions
- Jalapeño Peppers
- Banana Peppers
- Spinach
- White Russian Kale and another unknown variety
- De Ciccio Heirloom Brocolli
- Purple Cape Heirloom Cauliflower
- Big Daddy storage Onions
- Red, white, and yellow Onions
- Two varieties of heirloom peas
- Bush beans
- Pole Beans
- Dill
- Heirloom Cilantro
- Mustard
- Many sunflower varieties
- Heirloom and hybrid Butternut Squash
- Acorn Squash
- Cantalope
- Watermelon
- Long Pie Pumpkins
- Decorative Pumpkins
- Birdhouse Gourds
- Heirloom Cucumbers
- Crookneck Summer Squash
- Heirloom Basil
- Italian Flat Leaf Parsley and Curly Parsley
- Heirloom Oxheart Carrots
- Lemonbalm
- Many varieties of Leaf Lettuce
- Native Catnip
- Rhubarb
- Chives
- Asparagus